Mangalore: “Communication is not just about speaking out. It is also about being attentive, observant and receptive to what happens around us,” said Dr. Arunachalam Kumar, Director (R&D) of Nitte University. He was addressing the installation ceremony of Office Bearers for the year 2014-15 of Winners Club Toastmasters as the Chief Guest on Saturday 5th July at Hotel Maya International in the city.

The renowned academician regaled the audience with interesting snippets of how animals and birds communicate at their highest level of awareness and how we humans, though we are gifted with speech, cannot match them. “The whole world is trying to communicate all the time. What you gain depends on how receptive you are,” was his advice to the members of Toastmasters, a club dedicated to developing communication and leadership skills.

Toastmasters Area Governor Shashikanth Mangalore administered the oath of office to the new team of office bearers for 2014-15, led by the president Savitha Salian. The team includes Shivani Baliga (Vice President – Education), Brian Fernandes Vice President – Membership, Capt. Ramprasad Kodialbail (Vice President – Public Relations), Shwetha D’souza (Secretary), Radhika Adappa (Treasurer), Roshan Madtha (Sergeant-at-Arms) and Meghana Ballal (Immediate Past President).

Bhaskar Kiran welcomed the gathering and Outgoing Secretary Alisha Mendonca presented the annual report. Bharathi Shevgoor introduced the chief guest.

Outgoing President Meghana Ballal thanked her colleagues as well the members for enabling the club to attain the highest achievement of the ‘Golden Gavel Plus Award’ during her term.

In her acceptance speech Savitha Salian assured the members of her sincere service for the betterment of the club.

Division Governor Anita Cordeiro, Lieutenant Governor-Marketing MN Pai, former Division Governor Shyam Kamath, and the representatives of various other Toastmasters clubs felicitated the new officer bearers.

Shwetha D’souza proposed the vote of thanks. Brian Fernandes and Capt. Ramprasad Kodialbail were the comperes for the programme.
Winners Club Toastmasters meets every alternative Saturday at ‘Sahodaya’, Balmatta, Mangalore at 7:30 a.m.